Beet-harvester.



- G. H. SMITH.

BEET HARVBSTER.

APPLICATION FILED P111124, 1908. 1,026,714. Patented May 21, 1-912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. H. SMITH.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.24, 1908.

1,026,714. Patented May 21,1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

311mm to;

G. H. SMITH.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.24, 1908.

1,026,714. Patented May 21,1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

a-nucnfoz witness? I x MW (W R athnnu;

x 3 WW'M G. H. SMITH BBET HARVESTBR. APPLICATION FILED PERM, 1908.

Patented May 21, 1912.

w'tmaoao I W G. H SMITH. BEET HARVESTBR.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.24, 1908. 1,026,714. Patented May 21, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

am 119, 51mm W/M 111 101 fi Km w /yz UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFIoE.

GEbRGE H. SMITH. OF BROUGHTON, OHIO.

BEET-HARVESTER.

To all whom it may concern:

I)? it known that I. Gannon H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States. formerly residing at (iarden Cit). in the county of Finnev and State of Kansas. and now residing at liroughton. in the county of Panlding and State of Ohio. have invented certain new and useful 1m )rovements in Beet-llarvesters. of which the following is a specification. reference being had therein to the acconumnying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for harvesting beets and similar vegetables.

Among the objects of the invention are the provision of improved means for removing the beet foliage and tops. improved means for removing the severed foliage and tops out of the path of the following digging mechanism. improved meansfor controlling the cutting mechanism. improved means for steering the machine. and improved means for forming and preliminary furrows in ad 'ance of the plows of the digging mechanism.

Figure 1 is a side view of a machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a longitudimtl section of the front part of the machine on a large scale.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section on line ;c--:r of Fig. 4. some of the parts being removed. Figs. (3 to 8 show details.

In the drawings the machine is represented as having a main frame-work formed with the side bars A.

The main ground wheels are indicated by P. B. these being mounted upon the axle B held in the hearings B Between the wheels B. 13' and the axle there are backing ratchet devices B it. At the front end of the machine there is an axle-like bar 0 which supports caster wheels C, C. this bar being secured .to the front cross-bar of the main frame by means of the pivot 0 Each caster wheel is supported in a forked bracket e having a spindle which is pivot-ally connected with sleeves at the ends of the axle bar C. The draft apparatus comprises the tongue I) and the whitlietree l).

The.tongue is connected by a horizontal Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 24, 1908.

clearing Patented May 21, 1912. Serial No. 417,549.

pivot 17 with the yoke I) which'is secured to the front cross bar of the frame by pivot bolt D F indicates a cutting or topping apparatus, which comprises av horizontally arranged. relatively stationary cutter F and a rotary holding or abutting device F The latter is of the form of a drum having its axis arranged horizontally and mounted in a carrier having the arms F which extend forward along the inner faces of the frame beams and are pivoted thereto at f From the arms F there extend downward legs j which carry this rotary holding or abutting device F At their rear ends the arms F are turned down and each is connected to one end of the horizontal cutting device F.

The shaft of the rotary holding device is indicated by F and carries a sprocket wheel F.

F a drive chain passing over the sprocket F aml the sprocket F on the main axle B The shaft F is mounted in vertically adjustable boxes f. each of which is mounted in a guideand which can be adjusted by means of the screws f, f. By these devices the operative parts of the rotary element can be brought to any position desired in relation to the horizontal cutters F. The cutter F is provided with a cutting edge 13 which is curved backward at its ends.

The cutting or topping mechanism just described is supported from a cross shaft G mounted on the frame. This shaft has a lever or crank arm G which is flexibly connected by means of a link or rod 9 with a cross bar f, the latter being secured to the pivoted bars F The link or rod passes loosely through a hole in the bar and is adapted to move therein to a limited extent.

g is a spring interposed between the crank arm G and the bar f, this spring being placedaround the rod 7.

G is a hand-levcrconnccted to the cross operative position. If it is necessary at any time for the cutting implement to rise while the lever is in locked position, provision is made for such movement by the sliding connection of bar f and rod 9 in conjunction with the spring g. The holding drum F serves as a gage roller.

The whole cutting device is pivotally mounted as above described at f and is therefore free to move up and down. Different beets will stand at different levels and as the roller drum F engages with the beets the elevation of the cutter edge 13 will be adjusted so as to remove a definite amount from the top of the beet. This amount may be varied by adjusting the shaft F in the boxes f Ahead of the cutting or topping mechanism above described there is placed a cutter adapted to remove those leaves or tops on the beets which are. standing upright. It is indicated as whole by H, and is formed with horizontal cutters plates h and vertical flanges 7:3. The cutter plates h diverge outward and backward. The vertical plates k at the front unite in the central longitudinally arranged plate h, the forward edge of whichgtapers backward and downward to the first point of juncture of the cutting edges h'..

71. h indicate guard rods or fingers which are carried by this cutter H. They are approximately parallel to'the cutting edges of the plates 72/, and are placed some distance above them. They act to throw the severed leaves or tops to the right and i left and to put them in proper position for the action of the following devices in the machine. This cutting implement H is capable of rising and falling. It is guided and braced by means of one or more vertical rods H fitted in ides H on the main frame. The cutter is suspended on rods H near the longitudinal central part, these being pivoted to the heel part of the cutter and extending up to a bar 2" to be hereafter described. They pass loosely through this bar but are provided with nuts or heads adapted to rest upon it. When the bar is lifted the cutter -H is elevated under the guidance of the rods H and their guides. he cutter can automatically rise independently of the supporting bar 5 when it is pushed up by an obstruction or unevenness of the ground.

Between the cutter H and the topping or cutting mechanism at F I interpose means such as indicated by I for severing the leaves or tops which extend out laterally from the plant, these generally lying flat upon the ground. The last said means comprise two cutting disks I. These are concavo-convex and are so arranged as to have the planes of their cutting edges diverge somewhat outward and backward, the con- ,the disks to their normal position.

cave side being turned outward. They are mounted upon a shaft or bar i which at its ends is held in the legs of a fork or yoke I.

I isa guide bar secured to the central part of frame. This bar I is angular in section and passes loosely through an. aperture in the central part of the axle i of the disks I and also through an aperture in the top cross-bar I of the stirrup or yoke I. The yoke I is suspended or held against dropping vertically by means of the parts indicated at z', z", 2", 2' 2' being a crank arm carried by a cross rock shaft I and 2" being a plate or bar connected with the crank '11.

by the arm 5 The arm 2' extends from the plate 5 to the bar 2", above referred to, which receives the upper ends of the vertical rods H The guide rod I, above mentioned, passes loosely through the aperture in the bar i, the latter lying immediately below the cross bar I of the yoke I which carries the disks.

The rock shaft I is mounted on the brackets 4 and is connected with the hand lever Gr by means of a crank I and a link I. It will be seen thatwhen the hand lever G is thrown backward the rock shaft I and the crank i will be turned in such way as to cause the bar i to lift the yoke I and the disks. The connection between the disk yoke or carrier and the suspending device being loose, as aforesaid, a spring i is interposed between 'the plate 2" and the disk axle i Consequently the disks I are adapted to rise when necessary, even though the plate 2" be locked in position, such rising being accompanied by the compression of the spring 2' which will tend to againmestore VVhen it is desired to throw the several cutters out of action it is done by the abovedescribed hand lever G thrown backward the parts at F are lifted as above-described; and at the same time the link I is caused to rock the shaft 1*.

which, in turn, through the crank arm 2' lifts up the element composed of the arms 5, i i (rigidly secured together) and the lifting of this results in raising the disks with their fork carrier I, and also the cutter shoe H, through its supporting links H, the guide rods H moving u ward with it through the guides H". Such ifting of all of these outter and topping elements of the mechanism becomes necessary or advisable, not only when the machine is going to and from the field, but also when it is being turned, as at the end of a row, and taken to a new line of operation. While the machine is in action a cross bracket 3 secured to the When this is angle relative to the main frame. The draft devices assume this angular relation relatively to t e main frame in following deviations to the right or the left in the beet row.

- By causing the disks to become inclinedvto the main frame of the machine to lie in a position directly above the bar J, of the draft device adapted to be detachably engaged with the bar J. The bar J has ears or lugs j which can at times engage laterally with the front end ofthe bar J. The bar J has a slot and pin connection with the main fralne by means-of the pin 16 carried by the front cross bar 15. The rear end of the bar J is pivot-ally connected to the bar I? which at its forward end is rigidly secured to the guide barl. This guide bar, as before stated, passes through apertures in the yoke and axle which carry the disks 1 the guide bar being" rectan lar in cross section and snugly fitting into the rectangular aperture in the yoke.

When the cutting ap lower or operative posltion'the bar J is lowered with it and its front end is dropped to such a line that it lies between the ears' j on the lock bar J. With the parts in this position, by turning the tongue to the right or the left the disks I are correspondingly turned so that they assume an angular position with respect to the main frame. But when the cutting apparatusis elevated it carries u ward with it the bar J far enough to re ease its front end from the lock bar J and therefore the ton e can be swung to the-right or left relatively to the main frame and independently of the disks I When the tongue is turned the caster wheels 0 adjust themselves to correspond to the direct-ion of the line of draft.

Immediately behind the rear topping or cutting mechanism at F there is a deflector or fender K which acts to collect and push the severed leaves or tops laterall and deposit them at places out of line 0 the pull-' mg mechanism to be described. This fender mechanism K comprises rods k and the carrying arm K to which they are clamped. The arm K is pivoted at. k'to one of the bars F of'the frame of the cutting and topping mechanism F. This mounting of the fender K upon the cutter frame leaves the fender free to rise and fall to accommodate itself to obstructions or to the uneven surface of the ground. It is at the same time, however, so attached to the cutter frame that it will be raised to clear the ground when the cutter frame is raised.

The pulling and conveying mechanism, as

paratus is in its vteeth w secured to a rock shaft w.

cated upon the machine that they will follow approximately in the furrows made by the disks I. These diggers are so mounted that they may be raised-or lowered at the option of the operator, this-being accomplished by the hand lever and connecting means indicated by O. P represents the conveying apparatus for carrying the beets upward and backward from the diggers.

V is a supplementary conveyer adapted to receive the beets from the conveyor P and deliver them to the hopper U. This hopper has amovable bottom which may be low- .ered from time to-time to dump the beets upon the ground his is accomplished by means of the levers T and the foot treadle u.

indicated by W." It comprisesmnrved rake This shaft has a crank arm w which is connect ed b means of the pit-man or link w to a cran 7 arm w. This crank arm w is rigidly connected with a treadle lever W near the treadle u" and accessible to the footof the driver. The shaft w is mounted inbearings 11 and 12 at the rear of the machine; This raking mechanism is preferably located as shown at the rear of the machine in order that it may in noway in terfere with the proper operation of the digging mechanism and also in order that it may collect any leaves or tops which may have passed through the fenderK and thence through the digging and removing mecha- The leaves and tops are raked and gathered together ata transverse line at the rear of the machine by the mechanism nism. The disks I perform several func- "tions. As already described. they serve to cut the tops orleaves which lie at the sides of the beets or which have been bent down so that they lie uponthe ground. They also serveto form furrows at each side of the'row of plants and along such lines as to make openings and provide clearancesfor the vertical legs or arms which carry the cutters F. The diggers or pullers also follow in approximately the same line and enter the furrows which are, of course, free from loose and fibrous matter which would tend to entangle and clog the diggers and lifting mechanism. The arrangement of the disks is such that a ridge of earth is left with the plants in its center and the cutter F moves along the top of this ridge. Furgagement with the earth serve positive guides for the machine. The. movement of the tongue D causes a corresponding movement of the disks and the machine. is thus guided in the direction of the tongue. The casters C merely roll along the top of the. ground and serve as supporters. The knives at h and F are detachable so that they can be readily removed for sharpening or for the substitution of others.

hen the machine is in operation the front cutter or knife operates in a plane;

somewhat higher than the plane of the cutter F. The former is intended to cut otl' the tops of the beet roots themselves. The lifting devices for the cutters are so constructed and have their parts so arranged that when the lifting lever G" moves forward it tends to let the parts of the rear cutting mechanism drop to a plane somewhat lower than that of the cutter in front, as shown in Fig. 4.

hat I claim is:

1. The combination of the frame. the

rear relatively lower horizontally acting cutter. the forward relatively higher horiyont'ally acting cutter. and the intcrn'iediate vertically arranged cutters, substantially as set forth.

The combination of the frame. the rear relatively lower horizontally acting cutter, the forward relatively higher horizontally acting cutter, and the intermediate vertically acting disk cutters, substantiall) as set forth.

3. The combination of the frame, the rear relatively lower l'iorizontally acting cutter, the forward relatively higher hori zentally acting cutter, and the intermediate cutters adapted to move bodily to different vertical planes. substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the main frame, the horizontally acting cutting devices: carried thereby for severing the tops, and the vertically acting cutters adapted to be positioned in different. vertical planes, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the main frame, draft devices, the horizontally acting cutter for severing the tops. the vertical acting cutters, and means coimecting the vertically acting cutters with the draft devices, whereby they can he moved to different vertical positions. substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a main frame and the draft devices. of the vertically acting cutters, means; fondetachably connecting the vertically acting cutters with the draft devices, and means for throwing the connecting devices out of action, substantially as set forth.

7. in a machine of the class described, the combination of the main frame, the

cutter mechanism, the cutter frame pivotally connected at its forward end to the main frame, and the deflector pivotally mounted on the cutter frame at a point between the pivotand the cutter mechanism and adapted to remove the severed tops from the line of action of the machine, substantially as set forth.

In a machine of the class described, the combination of themain frame,the cutter mechanism, the cutter frame pivotally connected at its 'l't'irward end to the main frame, the detlettor pivotally mounted on the cutter i frame at a point between the pivot and the cutter mechanism and adapted to remove the severed tops from the line of action of the machine, and means for raising the cutter mechanism and the deflector out of operative position, substantially as set forth 9. in a machine of the class described, the combination of a horizontal cutter, guide bars rigidly attached to the cutter, support ing sleeves upon the main frame slid-ably engaging the guide bars, and lifting means attached to the cutter by means of which it substantially as set forth.

10. .In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame and a draft tongue of a forward horizontal cutter for severing upstanding beet foliage, the rear lower horizontal cutter for severing the beet tops, intermediate vertical cutters adapted to enter and engage the ground at both sides of the beet row and to sever laterally extending beet foliage, and means for connecting the said vertical cutters with the draft tongue whereby the said cutters are maintained in substantial parallel relation with the tongue, substantially as set forth.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of two substantially vertravel at the sides of a row of beets and cut otl' such of the beet foliage as extends laterally from the row, the disks being so mounted as to be free to rise independently of other elements of the machine to pass over obstructions, and means whereby the operator may raise the disks out of operative position, substantially as set forth.

1). In a machine of the class described, the combination with the main frame and supporting wheels therefor, of substantially vertical rotatable disks connected to the frame by a vertical pivot and adapted to enter and engage the ground, the said disks being independent of the supporting wheels and normally positioned substantially aral-' let to the line of motion of the machine, a draft tongue pivotally connected to the i frame, and means whereby the lateral movetical rotatably mounted disks adapted toextending beet ment of the toii'gue will cause a corresponding movement of the disks, substantially as set forth.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of substantially vertical rotatable disks connected to the machine frame by a vertical pivot, the said disks being adapted to engage the ground, a draft tongue pivotally connected to the main frame, connecting means between the tongue and the disks whereby the disks will be tongue, a pair of rotatable vertical disks adapted to enter the ground to engage the same, means for connecting the disks with the draft tongue for maintaining them in l substantial parallelism thereto, means whereby the disks may automatically move upward and downward independently of the other elements of the machine, means 1 whereby the operator may elevate the disks to inoperative position, and means whereby the disks are automatically disconnected maintained substantially parallel to the from the draft tongue when in inoperative tongue, means for raising the disks out of position, substantially as set forth. operative position and at the same time dis- 19. In a machine of the class described, connecting them from the tongue, substanthe combination of a main frame, a draft tially as set forth. tongue movably connected with the frame, 14. In a machine of the class described, a'forward horizontal cutting means, a rear the combination of digging points, substanhorizontal cutting means, an intermediate tially vertical rotatably mounted disks in vertical cutting means, each of the said cutadvance of the digging points forming guide ting means being free to rise and fall independently of the others, means for confurrows therefor and cutting fibrous material lying in their paths, the said disks being necting the vertical cutting means with the so mounted that they may be moved to steer draft tongue to maintain the said means in the machine, substantially as set forth. parallel relation thereto, means whereby all 15. In a machine of the class described, of the said cutting means may be raised out the combination of a horizontal cutting of the lower into operative position by one means, a vertical cutting means, a secondary movement of the operator, and means horizontal cutting means, each of the cutwhereby the vertical cutting means is disting means being free to rise and fall indeconnected from the draft tongue when in inpendently of the others, and means whereby operative position, substantially as set forth. all of the said cutting n'ieans may be raised 20. In a machine of the class described, out of or lowered into operative position by I the combination with a main frame and a one movement of the operator, substantially draft tongue pivotally connected thereto, of as set forth. digging points, substantially vertical rotatably mounted disks in advance of the dig- 16. In a machine of the class id escribed, the combination of an advance horizontally ging points forming guide furrows therefor and cutting fibrous material lying in their positioned cutting device adapted to sever upstanding beet foliage, the said device bepaths, and connections between the said ing adapted to laterally deflectany foliage disks and the draft tongue whereby the disks are maintained in substantially paralnot completely severed, a pair of vertically positioned rotatable cutting disks behind the lel relation to the tongue, substantially as set forth.

of the class described,

said horizontally positioned cuttin device, each disk being adapted to sever laterally 21. In a machine foliage at one side of the row, the combination with a main frame and a and a second horizontally positioned outdraft ton ue pivotally connected thereto, of aforwarc horizontal cutting device adapted to sever the upstanding beet folia e, a

ting device behind the said disks at a lower level than the first horizontally positioned pair of following vertical dlsk cutters a apted to enter the ground at the side of the cutting device and adapted to sever the beet row and to sever laterally extending beet tops, substantially as set forth.

In a machine of the class described,

foliage, connections bet-ween the draft tongue and the said disks whereby the disks are the combination with a main frame and a draft tongue, of a device normally substanmaintained in parallel relation to the tongue, a second horizontal cutting device behind tially parallel with the line of motion of the machine, and adapted to normally enter and engage the ground, means for connecting the disk cutters the said device with the draft tongue adaptbeet tops, a diagonally disposed deflector behind the said topcuttin device and adapted to move the severe foliage and ed to maintain the device in substantial pa allelism with the tongue, means for raisin tops out of the line of action of the machine, beet pulling and removing devices behind the device out of operative position, an means whereby the device is automatically the said deflector, and a device behind the said pulliu and removing mechanism for disconnected from the tongue when raised to inoperative position, substantially as set gathering is e tops into piles on the ground substantially as set forth.

forth.

18. In a machine 22, In a machine of the class described,

of the class described, the combination of a main frame, a draft the combination of symmetrically located In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, rearward dlverglng lIOIIZOHtRlly extendmg 1n presence of two Wlt'1l S$8S. cutting knives meetlng at a polnt at their E P 1 y r E 1-. L\ forward ends, and a vertval dlvldmg plate G (I I S H PH 5 located between the two cutters lluvmg a wltnesses: dmgonally forward and upward mclmed AL'IER T. PHILLIPS,

' forward edge, substantially as forth. JOSEPH W: FLA-manna. 

